Today, Governor Terry McAuliffe issued a proclamation recognizing National Coming Out Day on Saturday, October 11:

By virtue of the authority vested by the C’onstitution of Virginia in the Governor of

the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

WHEREAS, Virginia is committed to being inclusive priding itself as diverse, accepting, and supportive of all individuals, families, and communities; and

WHEREAS, Virginia enjoys the rewards of diversity, both in the vibrancy of its communities, and the strength of its economy; and

WHEREAS, on October 6, 2014, Virginia became one of 30 states in the United States to legally recognize same-sex marriages helping to extend equality; and

WHEREAS, equality for all men and women regardless of their race, color, creed or sexual orientation is intrinsic to the values that make us Virginians, and now it is officially inscribed in our laws as well; and

WHEREAS, National Coming Out Day honors the invaluable contributions of LGBT individuals and those involved in the October 11, 1987, March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights which helped establish lesbian and gay rights as a fundamental issue of civil rights; and

WHEREAS, National Coming Out Day promotes a safe world for LGBT individuals to live truthfully and openly;

and

WHEREAS, National Coming Out Day is a reminder that public celebration of LGBT identity is encouraged and that the underlying universal ideals of honesty, acceptance, tolerance, and commitment to equality must be shared by all individuals; and

WHEREAS, Virginia joins the Nation in celebrating the 26th Annual National Coming Out Day;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Terence R. McAuliffe, do hereby recognize October 11, 2014, as NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.

Just a few days after Christmas, Caroline and brother sat in her car while running errands. Music was playing from Caroline’s iPhone and her brother went to change the song. That’s when he noticed her phone’s background, a rainbow-clad image associated with LGBTQ pride. Without warning, he asked his sister, “Are you gay?”